Safety control mechanism for a type composing and line casting machine



NUW, 13, 1956 Filed Jan. 7, 1953 v so EL fff FINE 2,770,355

B. S. SAFETY CONTROL MECHANISM FOR A TYPE COMPOSING AND LINE CASTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Shes. l

INVENTOR. SIFLQ flv fornely 13, 1956 B. s. FINE SAFETY CONTROL MECHANISM FOR A TYPE COMPOSING AND LINE CASTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1953 mm mm.

INVENTOR. B gvd SFMW AWOM'L,

United States Patent SAFETY CONTROL MECHANISM FOR A TYPE COMPOSING AND LlNE CASTING MACHINE Byrd S. Fine, Clinton, Mass; Margaret A. Fine, administratrix of said Byrd S. Fine, deceased Application January 7, 1953, Serial No. 330,049

7 Claims. (Cl. 199-48) This invention relates to a type composing and line casting machine, and more particularly to a safety control mechanism which insures that a full line of matrices must be normally assembled before an elevator can move to transport the matrices to the type casting position, and yet which permits release of the elevator when a quadded line is required.

A standard type composing and line casting machine comprises mechanism for assembling matrices in a single line on an elevator, and when the line is full the elevator automatically moves the matrices upwardly for further operational stages including the casting of molten type metal against the characters thereon to form a slug or line of type. Such a machine may be operated automatically under the control of a perforated tape in accordance with code perforations punched therein which cause a selection of the required matrices, as shown in the patents to Walden #2,006,848 and Goetz et a1. #2,006,860 of July 2, 1935. In accordance with my prior Patent #2,163,390 of June 20, 1939, a safety device has been provided which prevents normal operation of the elevator until a full line of matrices has been assembled thereon. Otherwise, if the line were not full, the molten metal might escape through the spaces between loosely assembled matrices and cause damage.

Mechanism has also been provided for making a quadded line, in which a space is left at either end of a short line or both, such as at the beginning or the end of a paragraph or where a heading is centered in the line. This comprises movable vise jaws interposed from the required side to fill the space that is not occupied by the matrices in the casting zone. The quadding operation may also be controlled by the code tape, whereby the matrix assembling elevator is moved upwardly when the required matrices have been assembled, although the line is not full, such as is shown in the U. S. patent to Frolander #2,104,859 of January 11, 1938. The locking mechanism of my prior patent, however, would prevent the elevator from moving, unless the line of type were completely filled; and it is now required that when the quadding code perforations call for the elevator movement, or this movement is required by a manual control, the elevator lock may be released automatically and perrnit the line of matrices to go up for the casting operation.

It is therefore the primary object of my invention to provide mechanism associated with such an elevator lock whereby the elevator may be released before a line of matrices has been filled so that a quadded line may be produced but which normally prevents such elevator movement unless the matrix line is full.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of this type which is electrically operated in accordance with a quadding code applied to the tape, so that the matrix selecting and elevator operations and the operation of the quadding vise jaws may be coordinated with the elevator lock release.

A still further object of my invention is to provide mally locked against upward movement until a full line of matrices has been assembled but the lock may be released for a short line of assembled matrices, provided the perforated tape code requires a left, right or center quadded line, and the lock releasing mechanism will operate when any one of the three quadding operations is required by the tape code. Other objects will be apparent in the following disclosure.

In accordance with my invention, 1 provide an elevator locking mechanism in association with a lock releasing device, preferably an electrically controlled solenoid, which will release the elevator lock when required for a quadding step. The solenoid release of the lock is so controlled that the lock will be normally operative to prevent moving of the elevator before the line of matrices is full, and yet the lock may be released when required by and in coordination with a tape code signal relating to any one of the three quadding operations. Thereafter, the safety lock is restored to its normal locking re lationship prior to the next stage elevator movement.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate diagrammatically one embodiment of this invention:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary View of essential parts of the elevator lock and release mechanism and portions of the elevator moving mechanism and a cam controlled normally closed switch in the solenoid lock release circuit; and

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram for the lock release circuit in association with the mechanically related operating parts.

This invention is applicable to various type composing and casting machines which are so constructed as to give the quadding operations, such for example as that shown in the patents to Frolander #2,104,859 of January 11, 1938, and to Goetz #2,l48,549 of February 28, 1939, as well as the more recent developments in such machines, and reference may be had to such prior art for a description of the type composing and the quadding mechanlsms.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, as well as to the U. S. patents to Goetz et al. #1006360 and Walden #2,006,848, a line casting and composing machine may be operated either manually by means of a keyboard or automatically by a perforated tape controlled mechanism. In the standard automatic constructon, a tape 10 (Fig. 2) has six rows of perforations therein which provide a code for controlling various operations of the machine. One is that of controlling the release of matrices 11 (Fig. 1) from a suitable reservoir for assembling on an elevator 12. The tape also controls a clutch and cam mechanism which causes the elevator to ascend to a position where its matrices are transferred for the type casting step. The tape record reader mechamism comprises a set of rocket feeler levers 13, one for each row of perforations in the tape, and each lever has a pin 14 thereon individually adapted to pass through a tape perforation, if one is available. A rocking movement of the levers 13, as permitted by the tape perforations, imparts a given setting to a group of associated transfer levers 15 which are connected through pivots to six slidable code bars 16. The code bars thus sliclably positioned in accordance with the perforations in the tape have sets of notches thereon, as shown in said patents, which control the positions of a plurality of spring urged selector bars extending transversely across the code bars. One of a group of these bars 17 falls into slots in the code bars which have come into alignment, and this bar serves through suitable mechanism for releasing a matrix to the elevator, as described by Goetz et al.

A special elevator controlling selector bar .18 (the part 31 in the Goetz et a1. patent) is arranged to be moved forward by a bar 19 engaging a notch in the end of the bar when the bar falls into aligned notches'in the code bars 16. The bar 13 is moved by the spreader 39 and its movement serves to rock a T-bar 20 which is arranged to shift the clutch 21 (Fig. 1') and connect a shaft 22 with a driver 23 which through suitable cam mechanism causes the rotation of an elevator shaft through a one-turn cycle. That shaft, through a suitable connecting link causes the upward and downward cycle movement of'the elevator 12. This movement is'caused by an elevator cam 27 on the shaft 22 which engages a follower 28 associated with a swinging lever 30 arranged to rock the shaft 24 in accordance with the elevator cam movement. This swinging lever 30 is connected with the shaft 24 by means of a release mechanism 3%, which as described particularly in the patent to Walden, permits the shaft 22 to make its revolution'without rotating the elevator shaft 24, if there is an obstruction which prevents the elevator movement, such as when the lock of my prior patent holds the elevator. V

A second shaft 35 likewise power driven through a clutch drive 36 (Fig. 1) has a gear 37 (corresponding with the gear 26 of the Goetz et a1. patent) which drives a cross shaft 38. The latter has an elongated spreader cam 39 with opposite high points adapted to remove each transverse selector lever (normally arranged above and below the code bars 16) from the associated aligned slots of the code bars and return it to a set position for the next stage operation of the machine. The tape is moved intermittently by suitable pawl and 'ratchet mechanism so that it is stationary when the feelers sense the tape perforations and cause selected sliding code bars to align a given group of notches in accordance with the code. When the cam 39 is stationary its high points are remote from the selector bars so that any bar may fall and thereafter be raised by the high point of the cam upon the rotation of the latter. The second shaft 35 is held stationary with its clutch disconnected during the selection of the notches by the cross selector bars and an elevator movement has been effected. Thereafter, the shaft 35 is rotated and turns the cam 39 to remove all selector bars from the notches and permit another sliding movement of the code bars.

If a line is to be quadded either left, right, or center, wherein the line of matrices in the type casting zone is moved correspondingly towards the left, or the right, or is centered with space at each end of-the line, then the tape code gives a definite signal which causes the elevator movement prior to the line of matrices being full. One type of electrically controlled quadding mechanism is shown in the Frolandcr patent #2,104,859. In that construction, as well as in the more recent developments such machines, the quadding steps areelectrically controlled. Frolander provides solenoids which control the vise jaw movement according to special code signals received from the code bars. In such machines, a vise jaw is thrust from the left, or the right, or both, towards an incomplete line of matrices which have been transferred from the assembling elevator to the casting position, and these jaws take the place of spacers which would otherwise have had to be assembled on the elevator.

The movement of these quadding bars may be controlled either manually or by a special perforate signal code that has been made in the record tape. When manually controlled, the machine operator merely moves an indicator to a position which indicates quad left, quad right or quad center, and when he strikes a special lever on the key board the machine mechanism serves to release the elevator as well as to thrust either one or both of the quad bars into position at the proper time to fill out the line of type. Such a construction would not, however, release my elevator look. In its record tape control, one of three definite code signals on the tape is sensed by the tape feelers and transferred to the longitudinal movable code bars, and the quadding signal causes the elevator shaft to rotate.

As more fully explained in my prior Patent sat 52,163,390, the elevator on which the matrices are assembled is prevented from moving upwardly until there is a full line of matrices. A bar 50 is slidably mounted between two spaced rails 51 on the elevator 12 and on which the matrices 11 are mounted. This bar 50 has an upstanding lug 52 that is moved toward the left as the matrices are crowded into position, and the lug causes the bar 50 to move an adjustable sliding dog 53 forward until it strikes an adjustably mounted upstanding lug 55 on a swinging bar 56. That bar 56 is pivotally mounted and connected to the top arm of a first class locking lever 57. The foot 58 of lever 57 is a lock which is urged to a position above and in the path of movement of a shoulder 59 on the elevator 12. That locking lever 53 has a camming front edge at the left hand which the descending elevator 12 may strike and thrust the lock out of position and allow the elevator to go to its lowermost point, whereupon the lock swings again to the left into the path of the elevator'movement. Thus in a normal operation, when a full line of matrices has been assembled behind the lug 52, the d0g'53 striking the lug 55 will swing the bar 56 towards the left and cause the lock 58 to swing outwardly toward the right'from above the shoulder 59 of the elevator and release it for its upward movement, as caused by the crankshaft 24.

In order that the'quadding operation may take place, I have now provided a mechanism associated with the matrix assembling and quadding features which causes that elevator lock to be released when the tape code requirement as to the number of matrices has beensatisfied, although there is an incomplete matrix line on the elevator that is to be quadded. This comprises an electrically operated solenoid 69 which has a spring held core so positioned that when the solenoid is energized it may move the bar 56 against the spring resistance and release the lock 58 at the required time. That solenoid is controlled manually or by the coded tape and so connected into an electrical system that it Will operate in a coordinated relationship with the quadding requirements, so that the solenoid will causethe elevator to be released only in a proper timed relationship with the quadding. The elevator is released as soon as the feelers receive the signal, but the quadding operation is delayed until. the required sequence of events has taken place for moving the quadding bars. There are three operations going on simultaneously in the machine, whereby one line of matrices is being assembled on the elevator while another line previously assembled has been moved upwardly and transferred to another elevator for the quadding and type casting operation, and a third line of matrices, after the type slug hasbeen cast, is disassembled and the matrices returned totheir respective magazines. Hence the quadding signal on the tape has to be remembered by the mechanism so that it will serve at the right time to present the quadding vise jaws to the matrices in their slug casting position. My elevator releasing mechanism is coordinated therewith and functions for any one of the three quadding signals.

The tape perforations, which have been punched therein by means of a key board operated mechanism, comprise siX rows of perforations which cause selections of required matrix printing characters. Another code signal controls the elevator movement, and three special codes cause the activation of the quaddingmechanism. For example, a'left quadding may be caused by tape code perforations in the positions of 0, l, 3, 4, which, as shown in Fig. 2, set the code bars in related positions wherein a row of notches is aligned for a selector bar. A right quadding may be caused by tape and code bar'positions of 0, l, 2, 3, 4; and a center quadding by the positions of 0, 2, 3, 4, 5. This may be accomplished by electrical mechanism whereby a quadding code on the tape causes an electrical quadding signal which sets up a chain of events in a memory relay system. The electrical quadding signal is passed consecutively through three banks of relays which parallel electrically the mechanical travel of the three lines of matrices in the machine at one time. The first relay stores a quadding signal for the matrices in the assembling elevator. The second relay stores the signal for the matrices which are being transported to the casting zone, and the third relay causes solenoids to give the required vise jaw movement prior to the casting step. This quadding relay system is not a part of my invention and description thereof is not needed, since the coordination of my solenoid lock releasing mechanism with the quadding is accomplished by special code bar notches and associated mechanism. However, reference may be had to the Frolander Patent #2,l04,859 for a description of one manner of moving and controlling the quadding vise jaws.

In accordance with my invention, I may use the quadding bar selectors to control the solenoid, but I preferably employ a special selector bar 62 and a separate set of notches in the code bars 16 which are so constructed and arranged that when aligned in accordance with the tape code for any one of the three quadding steps, they will permit the special selector bar 62 (Fig. 2) pivoted on a pin 63 to fall into the notches and make an electric circuit by closing a normally open switch 64. This causes energizing of the solenoid 60 and thus the release of the elevator lock 58. The code bars 16 indicated by the numerals 0, l, 2, 3, 4, are moved longitudinally according to the tape perforation codes. Each bar has a special notch 65 of such size and arrangement that the notches may be brought into alignment only when any one of the three quadding codes is set up in the bar locations. When that alignment occurs, the switch actuating bar 62 falls into position and closes the switch 64. When the left quadding code of O, 1, 3, 4 is opposed to the tape sensing feelers and causes the quadding operation, such as is described by Frolander, then the special notches 65 in the sliding code bars 16 will have been positioned so as to permit the switch operating bar 62 to fall into place. For left quadding, the code bars 2 and 5 will not be moved the same as the other bars, but as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 2, will be in a projecting position, as it were. However, the notches 65 in these two bars 2 and 5 are cut sufficiently long so that although the bars have not been moved with the others, yet the bar 62 may fall into place. For a code signal 0, l, 2, 3, 4 representing right quadding, each notch of the specified code bars will be in alignment, and the notch of bar 5 is made long enough to provide the needed movement of bar 62. Similarly, for the center quadding 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, the notch in the bar 1 is required to be long so that the switch bar may fall into place. It will be appreciated that for all other tape codes, the code bars will be so positioned that a top portion between the notches of one or more of the bars will obstruct the downward movement of the transverse pivoted selector bar 62 and prevent it from closing the solenoid controlling switch 64. Thus the bar 62 may fall into place only when one of the three quadding codes has been sensed by the tape feelers.

This control of the safety lock operating solenoid 60 is coordinated with the quadding steps and the elevator movement, and the solenoid is to be de-energized when its function has been accomplished. As shown in Fig. 2, the shaft 22 which causes the upward movement of the elevator carries a cam 70, which is so shaped and located as to open a normally closed switch 72 and de-energize the solenoid 60 and so allow the lock 58 to swing forward under suitable spring pressure to its normal locking position.

The circuit comprises a relay having a solenoid 75 which controls certain switches 76, 77 and 78. Switch 76 is normally closed and thus provides a direct connection through the solenoid winding 75 with the terminals 79 and of a suitable direct current power circuit, provided switch 64 is closed. This normally closed switch 76 connects directly with the switch 64, so that when the switch bar 62 drops into the special notches 65 and makes its electrical switch contact, the circuit is thus closed through the relay solenoid 75. The switch 77 controlled by the relay solenoid 75 is normally open, but when the relay solenoid is energized this switch is closed just before the switch 76 is opened. That operation provides a circuit from the power line through the normally closed switch '72 and the now closed switch 77 through the relay solenoid 75 and thus holds the solenoid. energized after the contacts of the normally open switch 64, which is controlled by the code bars, are again opened because of a need for cam 39 to lift the bar 62 and permit shifting of the code bars to provide other code signals. The relay at the same time causes a normally open switch 78 to be closed and provide a supplemental circuit through the line 32 and thus to energize the safety lock operating solenoid 69. The relay '75 will hold that normally open switch 78 closed until the cam 74) makes a revolution from approximately the position shown in Fig. 2 around in the direction of the arrow and during the period the elevator is going up and down through its cycle; and ultimately the nose of this cam 70 will open the normally closed switch 72 and break the circuit through the relay solenoid 75. T hereupon the normally open switch 78 returns to its open position and the solenoid 60 which operates the safety latch is rendered inoperative.

This completes the cycle and causes the safety latch to be released, so that it may swing back into a locking position where it obstructs the upward movement of the elevator untii another quadding signal has been provided or until the safety device operates in accordance with the procedure of my prior patent when the matrices line on the elevator is full. anism will operate in accordance with the tape control to release the elevator at the time when the code arrangement of tape perforations provides for any one of the three quadding signals.

By means of this mechanism I may now accomplish two purposes, one for preventing the elevator from moving until a full line of matrices has been assembled, and the other for releasing the elevator when a quadded line is desired. When the type casting machine is to be controlled by a Teletypesetter, the keyboard operator who makes the perforated tape may strike single quadding code keys which will cause a short line of matrices to be shifted either to the left or the right, or to be centered for any given length of line. This provides the three different perforation codes in the tape, and these codes are translated int-o code bar movement, which in turn controls the operations of the vice jaws in the casting zone. The tape code likewise controls the elevator movement so that it may move for a short line that is to be quadded.

The safety device provided by my prior patent prevents having a loose line in the casting zone, as might happen if some mechanical failure should prevent the assembling of the required matrices and the code tape would nevertheless call for elevating the elevator for the casting operation. Hence a lock has been provided to prevent movement of the elevator unless the line of matrices is full. However, if the tape code calls for quadding, then the lock is released and an incomplete line may be sent forward for casting and the vice jaws will insure that the line is made tight. My solenoid release of the elevator lock permits the elevator to travel upwardly with a short line of matrices only when the quadding code requires it.

Unless, a quadding code is governing the elevator, then the locking device will insure safety for the machine operator, as well as satisfying special requirements. For example, if an accented letter or special symbol appears in the copy to be printed, the tape perforating operator may strike the elevate key only and then indicate the desired character or symbol on the perforated tape with his pencil,

It will thus be seen that this mech- This creates a short line of matrices and the elevator lock will prevent the elevator from moving upwardly in accordance with that signal. Hence the machine will stop because of the automatic release mechanism 31 which yields'when cam 27 tries to rock the elevator shaft. The attendant then notes the indication on the tape and inserts the required matrix and again starts the machine. Such elevator locking action is sometimes required because of limitations in the number of matrices in the storage magazine of the line casting machine. Also, if the Teletype tape perforating operator is careless in certain ways, the lock will keep the elevator from going up, and the line casting machine attendant, because of the break in the release mechanism 31, will discover the error and make the necessary correct-ion. This elevator holding look also serves when a matrix sticks in its channel storage 1113. 2 zinc or is not assembled properly on the elevator, or where the matrices tend to pile up on the elevator and may spill out. These and other accidental conditions are avoided, so that the operator of the line casting machine is not in danger of being struck by squirts of molten metal which may be caused by a loose line of matrices.

If the tape perforator has called for a quadded line, then the elevator will be released at the right time in accordance with my invention and the short line will go to the casting zone where the vise jaws will move in from opposite sides and make the line tight. Thus, the type casting machine will automatically guard against various types of accidents and at the same time permit casting a short line expeditiously and without the need for assembling blanks in the line of matrices. Various other advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art.

It will now be apparent that modifications may be made in this construction within the scope of this invention and that the above disclosure and the drawings are intended to describe a preferred embodiment of the invention and not as imposing limitations on the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A type composing and casting machine comprising a reciprocable elevator on which matrices are assembled, power mechanism for moving the elevator, notched code bars which are movable to positions of aligning sets of notches selectively, means for moving the code bars selectively, mechanism including a selector bar movable into one set of aligned notches which causes the power mechanism to move the elevator, mechanism including a releasable lock which normally penmits movement of the elevator only after a substantially full line of matrices has been assembled thereon, said code bars having one set of alignable quadding notches for governing a quadding operation, and mechanism including a special selector bar movable into the aligned quadding notches which causes the lock to be released although the matrix line is incomplete so that the elevator may move for a quadding operation.

2. A type composing and casting machine comprising a reciprocable elevator on which matrices may be assembled, a tape having a quadding and elevator control code, record reading mechanism selectively sensing the tape code, movable code bars governed by said mechanism which are provided with special sets of quadding and elevator control code notches, a set of selector bars arranged to be selectively positioned in temporarily aligned notches in the code bars as governed by the tape code, mechanism including one of said positioned selector bars which causes the elevator to move in accordance with a definite elevator control code signal presented by aligned notches of the code bars, a releasable elevator lock which normally permits movement of the elevator only after a full line of matrices has been assembled thereon, and mechanism i11- cluding a special selector bar governed by a quadding code signal presented by aligned notches in the code bars which causes the lock to be automatically released to permit the elevator movement in accordance with the quadding signal.

3. A type composing and casting machine according to claim 2 in which the lock releasing mechanism comprises a solenoid connected to release the lock, and an electrical circuit including the solenoid which has a normally open switch which is operated by said selector bar in accordance with said quadding code signal.

4. A type composing and casting machine according to claim 2 comprising a solenoid connected to release the lock, an electrical circuit including said solenoid and a. switch, said switch being operated by the selector bar to energize the solenoid when the code bar notch alignment calls for any quadding operation, and mechanism moved in timed relation with the elevator movement which releases the selector bar from the notches.

5. A type composing and casting machine comprising an elevator on which matrices are assembled, a perforated tape providing a quadding and elevator control code, movable notched code bars, means governed by the tape code whichmoves the code bars in accordance with the tape code, .a set of selector bars selectively movable into aligned notches in the code bars, mechanism operatively governed by the movement of one selector bar into notches aligned according to the elevator control code which causes the elevator movement, mechanism including a releasable lock which normally permits movement of the elevator only after a substantially full line of matrices has been assembled thereon, a solenoid having its core connected to release the lock, an electrical circuit including a switch for energizing the solenoid, the code bars having special notches which are aligned when the tape codeprovides a quadding signal, means including one special selector bar which is movable into the special notches aligned according to the quadding signal to operate said switch for making said solenoid circuit and releasing the lock, and means for thereafter breaking the circuit in a timed relation with the elevator movement.

6. A type composing and casting machine according to claim 5 in which the code bars have a set of quadding notches so arranged that the special selector bar may seat in the notches and close the switch governed thereby when any one of three quadding codes is presented.

7. A type composing and casting machine according to claim 6 in which the electrical circuit comprises a relay system which maintains the lock releasing solenoid energized until the elevator has moved and mechanism including a cam operated in timed relation with the elevator movement and a switch governed thereby which breaks the circuit and causes the lock to be restored to an operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

